Dead front terminal block assembly

Abstract

A terminal block assembly configured to prevent inadvertent contact with captivated electrical terminals while providing access to the terminals. The terminal block is formed from complementary insulating parts which collectively define permanently enclosed sections in which the terminals are disposed.

We claim: 
     
       1. A dead-front terminal block assembly comprising: a plurality of terminals;   a terminal block including complementary insulating parts having walls which collectively define individually-enclosed sections containing respective ones of the terminals and having abutting walls which form partitions dividing respective ones of said individually-enclosed sections into first and second oppositely-disposed outer subsections;   each partition including an aperture defined by the abutting walls forming such partition, and each terminal including a conductive member which extends through the aperture in a respective one of said portions, to the associated outer subsections, such apertured partition serving to secure such conductive member in position;   each of said subsections of each section having an opening for receiving a conductor to be attached to the portion of the conductive member extending into such subsection, such conductor being prevented by said partition from extending into the other subsection of the section,   at least one of said sections containing a terminal which includes a tubular member disposed in one of the outer subsections of such section, the conductive member in such section extending into such tubular member;   such tubular member including means for effecting clamping of a conductor to be inserted between the conductive member and an inside surface of the tubular member, such clamping means comprising a threaded hole formed through one side of the tubular member and a clamping screw inserted in the hole, said screw effecting movement of the tubular member relative to the conductive member when the screw is turned.   
     
     
       2. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 1, where the partition-forming walls cooperate to form, in each section, two of said apertured partitions for dividing the respective sections into a central subsection and two outer subsections, said conductive member including a tab which projects into the central subsection for facilitating positioning of the conductive member in the section. 
     
     
       3. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 1 where said terminal includes one of said tubular members disposed in each outer subsection of the respective sections. 
     
     
       4. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 1 where said tubular member which is disposed in one outer subsection surrounds one end of the conductive member of the terminal in which such tubular member is included, and the other end of said conductive member extends through an opening in an outer wall of the terminal block facilitating connnection to a conductor external to the terminal block. 
     
     
       5. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 4 where said other end of the conductive member extends through the opening at a right angle with respect to the direction of its extension in the tubular member. 
     
     
       6. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 1 or 2 where at least one of said conductive members includes means, at the extension thereof into one of said outer subsections, for effecting attachment of a conductor to said conductive member. 
     
     
       7. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 6 where the attachment means comprises a flat, blade-shaped end of the conductive member. 
     
     
       8. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 6 where the attachment means comprises a threaded hole formed in the conductive member and a screw mounted in said hole. 
     
     
       9. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 1 or 2 where the complementary insulating parts cooperate to form at least one recessed mounting hole between adjacent sections. 
     
     
       10. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 9 where said mounting hole is formed by an opening in a first one of said parts and a tubular wall in a second one of said parts. 
     
     
       11. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 10 where the tubular wall comprises portions which serve as portions of the walls of the adjacent sections and portions connecting the sections, said connecting portions serving as means at which the adjacent sections can be separated to subdivide the block into a plurality of blocks. 
     
     
       12. A dead-front terminal block assembly as in claim 11 where an end of the terminal block has formed therein one-half of one of said tubular walls for engaging another one-half tubular wall formed in the end of another terminal block, when the terminal blocks are mounted with ends abutting, said engaging tubular walls establishing predetermined distances between the adjacent sections of the two terminal blocks.